IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


L'4|2£    125 

■50   ^^^"     MHHi 

40    112.0 


12.2 


1.8 


!-25     1.4  III.6 

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6"     

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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  •72-4903 


■n 


v.. 


t 


a 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  MIcroreproductlons  /  Instltut  canadier;  de  microreproductlons  historlques 


piUipimiiii 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibllographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag6e 


I      I    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  dt6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  Image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 


I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


¥ 


Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


n 


Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Showthrough/ 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in^gale  de  I'lmpression 

includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  film^es  i  nouveau  do  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  mellleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

2 

V.X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


e 

Stalls 
8  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
ilmqge 


les 


re 


/  errata 
id  to 

rtt 

ie  pelure, 

9on  d 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


12  3 


L'exemplaire  fiimd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet^  de  I'exempiaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmege. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  fiim^s  en  commengant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniftre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon,  soit  par  ie  second 
plat,  salon  ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbole  y  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  ur  seui  cliche,  il  est  filmd  A  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  ie  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


•■   'f 

2 

3 

■    4 

5 

6 

■-V 


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AW 


*    ADDRESS 


TO   THE 


PEOPLE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 


.. 


■%^     •    V 


Bt  R.  WATSON, 


FIRST    KEW-yORK    (DITION. 


^*  '^ 


UEW.YORK  : 


raiMTBB   BY    J.   BUBL    rOK    C.    OAV18|   H?*  f4| 

WATERirRKBT* 


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ADDRESS 


«*•■ 


,.     .^,        to  THE  ..■■■.'<•    ^  iV^  »»•*'?<■•  <"'. 

People  of  great  Britain,    ^ 


My   j£//0iu  Countrymen,  • 

'I'HE  fcniimenu  which  I  fhall,  in  this  addrefj,  take 
X  the  liberty  of  ftating  to  you  on  fome  intercRing 
points,  will,  I  hope,  meet  with  your  candid  attention't 
if  not  from  their  worth,  from  the  confideration  that 
th(iy  are  the  fentiments  of  an  independent  nian.  I  am 
neither  the  friend  nor  enemy  of  any  party  in  the  (late ; 
tnd  am  fo  far  an  impra£licable  man,  that  on  all  public 
queftiont  of  2mportan4te  I  will  follow  the  diflates  of 
my  own  individual  judgment.  No  favor  which  I 
could  receive  from  thii  or  from  any  adminiftration 
Would  induceme  to  fupportmeafures  which  I  diiliked  ; 
nor  will  any  ncglefl  1  miy  experience  impel  me  toop- 
pofe  meafuret  which  I  approve. 

A  new  lyftem  of  finance  ha«  this  year  been  intro- 
du(ied  \  and  I  fairly  own  it  has  itiy  approbation  as  far 
as  it  goes.  It  has  given  great  difcontent  to  rn^ny  ;  but 
it  has  given  none  tome.  I  lament,  as  every  man  mud 
do,  the  necelHty  of  impofing  l"o  heavy  a  burden  on  thfc 
community  ;  and,  with  a  family  of  eight  children,  -l 
Ihall  feel  its  prefl'ure  as  much  as  mod  men  :  but  I  am 
'  fo  far  from  cenfuring  the  miniiler  for  having  done  f» 
much,  that  I  finccrely  wiHi  he  had  done  a  great  deal 
more.  In  the  prelent  fttuation  of  Great  Britain,  and 
of  Europe,  palliatives  are  of  no  ufc,  balf>meafure»  can« 
not  fave  us.  InUead  of  calling  for  a  tenth  of  a  man's 
income,  I  wifh  the  miniftcr  had  called  for  a  tenth  or 
for  fuch  other  portion  of  every  man's  whole  property 
as  would  have  enabled  him,  not  merely  to  make  a  tern*, 
porary  proviHon  for  the  war,  but  to  have  paid  off,  in 


'4 


i* 


-1 


^^1 


liiiHu 


UT'T:-  'rJ^'^i'TVf^- 


MWiuj^i: 


'  c  4  :i 

•  few  yeirj,  the  whole  or  the  jjrcatefl  part  of  the  rti- 
lional  debt. 

A  million  a  year  his  been  wlfclj^  fet  apart  for  the 
reduftion  of  ihc  d-bt ;  and  had  we  Coiiiinued  at  peace, 
its  operaiion  would  have  bren  beneficially  felt  in  a  few 
years;  but,  in  owr  prcfent  circunillanccs,  and  with  an 
expcftation  of  the  recurrency  of  war  at  Ihort  jacriods, 
it  la  not  one,  two,  or  three  millions  a  yciir,  that  can 
prefcive  us  from  bankruptryi  Wc  had  belter  ilruggle 
to  eff.-£t  the  cxtinftion  of  the  debt  in  five  yeirs  than  in 
*ifty,though  our  exertion, dutingtheihort  period  ihould 
be  pi  oportionably  greater. 

%■•  A  nation  is  but  a  colle£lion  of  individuals  united  in* 
to  one  body  for  mutual  bcnrfit;  and  a  national  debt  is 
a  debt  belonging  to  every  individual,  in  proportion  to 
theproperiy  he  poffi-ffes  ;  and  every  individual  maybe 
^  judly  called  upon  lor  his  quota  toward';  the  liquidation 
of  it.  No  man,  relatively  Ipcaking,  will  be  either  rich- 
er or  poorer  by  this  payment  being  generally  made,  for 
riches  and  poverty  are  relative  terms  :  and  when  all  the 
members  of  a  community  arc  proportionably  reduced, 
the  relation  between  the  individuals,  asio  *!.CY'*<»r(umof 
each  man's  property,  remaining  unaltered,  the  individu- 
als themlelves  will  feel  no  elevation  ordeprelTion  in  the 
Icale  of  fociety»  When  all  the  foundations  of  a  great 
building  (inks  uniformly,  the  fymmetry  of  the  parta  it 
not  injured  \  the  preifure  on  each  member  remains  as  it 
>vas  ;  no  rupture  is  made  :  the  building  will  not  be  To 
lofty,  but  it  may  ftand  on  a  better  bottom.  It  does  nOt 
require  an  oracle  to  inform  us  (though  an  oracle  has 
faio  it  )that  riches  have  been  the  ruin  of  every  country; 
^  they  banifh  the  iimplicity  of  manners,  they  corrupt  the 

'''  morals   of  a  people,  and  they  invite  invaders.     If  we 

pay  the  national  debt,  we  may  not  live  quite  io  luxuri- 
oufly  as  we  have  done  ;  but  this  change  will  be  no  de- 
triment either  to  our  virtue  as  men,  or  to  our  fafety  as 
members  of  fociety. 

I  confider  the  property  of  men  united  in  fociety  fo 
far  to  belong  to  the  date,  that  any  portion  of  it  may  be 
jullly  called,  for  by  iheiegiflalure,  for  the  promotion  of 


:atefl  part  of  the  na. 

y  f<t   apart    for   the 

e  Cominued  at  peace, 

eficially  felt  in  a  few 

:ancc8,    and  with  aa 

war  at  (hoit  periods, 

n»  a  year,    thai   can 

'r  had  belter  Uruggle 

in  five  yeirs  than  in 

le  fliort  period  Ihould 

idividuals  united  in* 
nd  a  national   drbt  it 
lal,  in  proportion  lot^ 
Ery  individual  maybe 
wardo  the  liquidation 
,  will  be  either  rich- 
5  generally  made,  for 
lis  :  and  when  all  the 
lortionably    reduced, 
s,  asio'!,cy.-ta)ffumof 
altered,  the  individu. 
n  or  deprefllon  in  tha 
indationi  of   a  great 
letry  of  the   parla  it 
member  remains  ai  ic 
Iding  will   not  be  fo 
ottom.     It  does  not 
lough  an  oracle  haa 
lin  uf  every  country; 
ra,  they  corrupt  the 
ite  invadera.     If  we 
ive  quite   lo  luxuri- 
ance will  be  no  de- 
or  to  our  fafety  as 

united  in  fociety  To 
lortion  of  it  may  be 
or  the  proiaotioB  of 


r  5  3 

the  'rt)fnn:on  good  :  and  it  ia  then  mnft  equitably  call- 
ed for,  when  all  individuals,  poffeiring  property  of  any 
kind,  contribute  in  proportion  to  their  poH'enfioni. 
This  is  a  principle  foobviouflyjuft,  that  it  ia  attended 
to  as  much  as  poflible  in  every  fcheme  of  finance  ;  and 
it  would  be  the  unrverlal  rule  of  taxation  in  every 
country,  could  the  properly  of  individuals  be  exaftly 
alcertiiined.  Much  objc6lion  is  made  to  the  obliginjr 
men  to  diicover  the  amount  of  their  property  ;  but  [ 
have  never  heard  a  lufBcient  reafon  in  fupport  of  the 
•«bje£lion.  I  can  Icc  a  reafon  why  merchants,  tradef- 
men,  contratters,  money-jobbera,  who  deal  in  large 
4peculations  on  credit,  and  without  an  adequate  capi- 
tal, (huuld  be  unwilling  lo  dilclole  their  property  ',  but 
I  do  not  lo  clearly  iee  what  mifchief  would  artie  to  the 
jcommunity,  if  they  were  obliged  to  doit. 

The  value  of  every  man's  landed  property  ia  eafiiy 
4cnown  ;the  value  of  hismonied  property  in  the  funds 
ia  known  ;  and  his  monied  property  in  mortgages  and 
A)onds  might  aa  eaftly  be  known,  if  an  aft  of  parliament 
was  palfcd,  rendering  no  mortgage  or  bond  legal  which . 
iwas  not  regiftered.  The  greatcft  difficulty  would  be 
in  alcertainingthe  value  of -Aock  in  trade  :  but  a  jury 
•f  neighbors  co>operating  with  the  probity  of  mer- 
chants and  manufafturers,  and  that  regard  for  charar- 
ter  which  generally  dillinguiihes  men  in  bu&ne(s,  would 
fettle  that  point. 

,  I'h^ve  lately  converfed  with  a  variety  of  men,  in  dif- 
-ferent  ftations,  and  in  different  pasts  of  the  kingdom, 
and  have  Icarcely  met  with  one  among  the  landed  gen- 
try, and  with  none  among  tho  manufadurers,  tradcf- 
nen,  farmers,  and  artificers  of  the  country,  who  has 
nut  declared  that  he  had  much  rather  pay  his  portion 
of  the  principle  of  the  tiatienal  debt,  than  bch^rraflied 
with  the  taxes  deftined  for  the  payment  of  th«  interefE 
•fit.  This  is  true  patriotilm,  and  good-fenle  ;  and 
were  we  in  our  preient  circumfVances  to  di'loharge  the 
whole.,,  or  the  create  (t^pai't  of  the  national  derbtyatlEU* 
»pc  wottld  admire  our  magnanimity,  and  PVaflCC'ller- 
iilf  woukL-txemhic-at  tbe  idea  «f  iubjugtti/i^fg4w|^h4pU> 
g^ed  i  pcuplc«  A  a 


The  mmifter,  lam  perfuadcd,  it  loo  enliithtcneti «<* 
to  have  conndeied  thia  fubjeft  ;  and  objeaions  may 
have  occurred  to  him,  which  have  not  occurred  to  me. 
1  have  ventured  to  ftate  it  for  general  confidoration  ; 
that  it  may  not  be  quite  new,  if  we  fhould  at  length 
be  compelled  to  have  recourfe  to  fuch  an  expedient. 
There  would  be  Tome  difficulty  in  arcertaining  every 
man's  property  ;  but  where  there  it  a  willing  mind  to 
remove  difficulties,  they  are  feldom  infurmountable. 
The  modifications  which  the  bill  for  increafing  the  af- 
fefTed  taxes  has  undergone,  are  numerous,  and  in  gci- 
neral  judicious;  and  are  a  proof  that  the  mol  perplex- 
ing  difficuhiea  yield  to  impartial  and  deliberate  wit 
dom. 

One  modification   has  not    been  noticed  ;  at  Icaft,  I 
have  not  leen  it  flated  in  lo  clear  a  manner  as  it  might 
be  (la ted  ;  and  I  will  mention  it,  as  not  undeferving  at- 
tention, if  the  bufincfs  (hould  ever  be   refumed  in  ano. 
thcrform — Permament.  income  arifea  either   from  the 
rent  of  land,  or  from  the  intereft  of  money,  or  from  an 
annuity.     The    annuitants   are  very  numerous   in  th« 
kingdom.     PofTelTors  of  entailed  eftates,  widows   with 
jointures,  the  bifhops  and  clergy,   the  judges  and  pot 
fefors  of    patent  places  during  life,  the  officers  of  the 
army  and  navy,  and  many  others   under  different  deno* 
ininations,  fupport  themfelves   upon  property  termin«4 
ting  with  their  lives.     The  lives  of  pofTefTors  of  annui^ 
ties  may,  takingthe  old  and  young  together,  be   worth 
twelve  years  purchafe.     An  annuitant  then,  who  hai 
an  income  of  L.I eo  and    no  other  property,  is    worth 
I-.1200;  fo  that  in  paying  a  tenth  of   his   income,  he 
pays  an  hundred  and  twentieth  prt  of  his  whole  pro- 
perty.    A    perfon    pofTefTed    of  an  income    of   L.ioo, 
arifing  from  a  properly  of  L.2000,  let  out  at  an  interefb 
of  L.5  per  cent,     in  paying  a  tenth  of  his  income,  psy#« 
a  two   hundredth   part    of   his    property.      A   perfott 
poffelTmg  an    income  of  L.ioo,   arifing  from  land,  iiv 
paying  a  tenth  of  his  income,   pays  (eftimating  land  afr 
thirty  years  purchafe  )  a  three  hurdiedth  paik  of  hi* 
f  roperiy,    M«n  under  lh«r«  different  defcriptieot  pay» 


■■'-^■^^•^^''ntiit^i'  in 


^-J  ■**-^;,tV  , 


too  CNlii^httneti -Mflt 
and  objrftions  may 
not   occurred  to  me. 

ncral    confidcration  ; 

we  (hould  at  length 
fuch  an  cxpedieni. 

1  afcertaining    every 

is  a  willing   mind  to 

iom   infurmountable. 

or   increafing  the  af. 

imsrous,    and  tn  g&. 

lat  the  mol  perplex* 
and  deliberate  wit 

noticed  ;  at  lea  ft,  I 

manner  as  it  might 
>not  undeCervingat- 
ba  refumed  in  ano^ 
Tea  either  from  the 
F  money,  or  from  an 
ry  numerous  in  the 
[lates,  widows  with 
the  judges  and  pot 
;,  the  officers  of  tha 
nder  different  deno» 
n  property  terminal 

pofletlbrs  of  annui« 
together,  be  worth 
tant  then,  who  hai 
property,  is  worth 
of  his  income,  he 
;  of  his  whole  pro> 

income  of  L.too*' 
et  out  at  an  intereflb 
of  his  income,  pay* 
operty.  A  perron> 
ifing  from  land,  iiv 
(  eftimaling  land  af 
mfidth  ))ait  of  hi* 
;o(  defcriptioat  pajrt 


r'7  3 

equally.  tiJough  their  propertiei'  are  unequal,  in  the 
proportion  of  fix,  ten,  and  fifteen. 
^  fSuch  objcft.on  alfo  h«  on  all   hands  been   made  t« 
the  touching  of  the  fund,  by  taxation  :  but  I  own  that 
I  do  net  fee  any  fufficient  realon  why  property  .n  thb 
funds  may  not  be  a.juftly  a.  any  other  P'"P/;'y/"^- 
iea  to  the  difpofal  of  the  IcgiHuure.      I  make  this  ob- 
ie7vation  withperfea  impartiality  ;  for  a  confiderable 
part  of  the  little  property    1   poiTef.  ..    m   the    fuuds 
f arliament  has  pledged  the  nation  to  the  P»y"«"t  «f 
the  iotereftof.he  money   which  has  been  borrowed, 
ill  the  principal  is  paid  oft  :  but  when  the  debt  »  be- 
come fo^reat.  that^he    rental    of  the   kmgdom    w.U 
fCTccly  pay  the  intercft  of  it,  I  do  not  fee  any  breach 
of  cont^raS,'any  want  of  equity,  in  the  l=g;^»ture  o 
the  country  faying  to  the  public  creduor-rhc  nolfer- 
far.  of  Und  are^iving  up  a  tenth   or  twentieth  part 
of  all  they  are  worth  for  the  publ.c   fcrv.ce  ;  the  pot 
Feffors  of^oufes,  of  (lock  in  trade,  of  •««';8»g"  '"^ 
bonds*  are  doing  the  fame  thing— what  reafon  can  be 
ifven  why  you^lhould   be  exempted  ?  You  plead  the 
f  Uh  of  Plrliament.-Be  it  (o  !     P»rliament  prefervej 

faith  with  you  ;  for  if  ^^.^^l^^^^y^r^^y^l'^T^, 
hand  pay  you  your  principal,  it  might  lay  hold  of  it 
^th  The  other,  and  make  you  as  liable  as  otj"  me'l 
poffefling  money,  to  p^y  your  proportion  ;  »"J^°" '' 
5ot  comt  to  the  fame  thing,  whether  your  whole  pr  n- 
Tinle  is  oaid  and  a  portion  of  it  is  taken  back  again, 
J  whetWyour  pr'lncipal  is  diminifted  by  that  por- 
JonTand  you  receive  .he'ft.pulated  intereft.  t.U  the  re- 

"ted:^i?n'i^1>c.Wlng  of  France  -W  twenty 
years  ago,  obferved,  that  there  were  three  things  wh.ch 
CnderS  France  from  re-affuming  that  afcendancy  in 
Jl^  affaTr.  of  Europe  which  (he  had  P;ff«ff<=<i.  f'":;!;''' 
IC«eofHenrvlV.--the  enormity  of  her   debt— fx- 
SiSccs-Laud  taxes  multiplied  in  an  excemv.  . 
manner.     The  two  Ua  are  the  offspring  of  the  (irR  j   . 
^rS^'minarch'.  oWervation  i»  !PP»-»^^]°S  I 
Mher  naion  u.der  the  fime  circumfUncci,  and  to  ouir*  * 

V 


i^- 


m- 


[   I   3 

..fclve*  ■(well  u   to   others.     If  we    pay  our  d(4)r  by 

juilicioui  iiilljlinenis^  wc  (hall  tieithrr  run  the  rilk  o( 
the  noverntni-m  being  broken  up,  at  it  was  in  Fiaiicc, 
by  (he  dilconienti  of  the  people,  and  an  inibiliiy  to  p» 
on  ;  nor  Hull  vvc  cripple  our   commerce   by   ih«  high 

firiie  of  labor  ai\d  provifions  ;  nor  Ihall  we  be  depupu- 
aiid  by  eini(jrdiion»  to  Amertci  or  fiance  ;  but  wu 
fluil  preleivc  the  importance  we  puirds  in  Europe, 
and  renuvate  the  ftrcngth  and  vigour  of  the  body  po- 
iitic. 

Bat  I  will  not  detain  you  longer  on  thi»  point  ;  there 
is  another  of  jjreat  importance^  to  which  I  with  to  tura 
your  attention. 

Whatever  doubts   I   formerly   entertained,  or   (not- 
wiihflandinf  all  1  have   read  or  htard   on  the  fubjeft) 
may  ftill  entertain,  cither  on  the  juftiee  or  the  neceiri- 
ly  of  cornmeiicing  this  war  in  which  wc  are  engaged,  I 
«ntertain  none  on  the  preleiit  ncceirity   and  juftice  of 
continuing  it.     Under  whalsrver  circumilances  the  war 
was  begun,  it  is  now  becom  e jud  ;  fjnce  the   enemy 
Ji»s  rcfufed  to  treat,  on  equitable  terms,  for  the  reftor- 
ation  of  peace.     Under  whatever  circuinftances  of  ex- 
pedif-ncy  or  inexpediency  the  war  was  commenced,  its 
ContinuaHCC  is  now  become  neceffHry  ;  for  wlwt  necef- 
fily  can  be  greater  than  that  which  arifes  from  the  ene. 
my  having  threatened  us  with  deftrudion  as  a  nation  P 
Herd  may  probably  be  told,  that,  allowing  the  war 
to  be  juft,  it  IS  Sill  not  nccelTai  y,  but  perfe6tly  inexpe- 
dient.    I  may  have  it  rung  in  my  cars  tlut  the  Frencl* 
are  an  overmatch  for  us,   that   it  is  better  to  lubmit  aJb 
once  to  the  moll  ignominious  lernu  of  peace,  ihan  ta 
fee  another   Bicnnua   weighing  out  the  bullion  of  the 
ftank,  and  inluliing    the   milery   of  the  nation  with  »- 
"  woe  to  the  vanqnifhed.*      I  admit  the  conclufjon  ofi 
ihe  alterriativc  to  be  juft,  but  I  do  not  admit  the  truth: 
«f  the  prioeiple  from  which  it  is  derived — I  do  not  ad- 
(ftit  that  tlijC  French  are  an  overmatch  for  us. 

I  am  far  puough  frou.  atfi-fting  knowledge  in  mili^ 
tery  mailers  ;  but  every  man  knows  that  men  and  mnnajf, 
Jtft  the  StacMioi  wax,  and  iha  vii^ry  in  ibe  ficMib 


fit: 


* 


r'l" 


f  we    piy  our  defbf  by 

leithrr  run  the  rilk  of 
J,  at  it  W4&  in  t'laiicc, 
,  and  an  iHibiliiy  to  g:i> 
onimerce  by  iht  higfi 
nr  ihall  webedepupu- 
:i  or  fiance  ;  but  \vu 
ve  poiTcIs  in  Europe, 
'igour  of  (he  body  po- 

'T  on  tht»  point  ;  there 
which  I  with  to  tura 

entertained,  or  (not- 
htard  on  tho  (ubjeA) 
judice  or  the  neceiri- 
iicb  wc  are  engaged,  I 
celfity  andjuftice  of 
ciicumilances  the  war 
j(l  ;  fince  the  enemy 
terms,  Km-  the  reflor- 
circuinfliancesof  ex> 
ir  wat  commenced,  it« 
Hry  ;  for  wlwt  necef- 
h  arifcs  from  the  ene. 
:llru3.ion  as  a  nation  ? 
hat,  allowing  the  war 
but  perfe6tly  inexpc- 
'  e«r»  tlui  the  FrencJ* 
is  better  to  lubmit  aJb 
rnu  of  peace,  ihan  tOi 
3ut  the  bullion  of  the 
of  the  nation  with  »■ 
joait  the  conclufion  ok 
:>  not  admit  the  truth: 
ierived — I  do  aotad- 
latch  for  us, 
{  IcnowJctlge  in  mili^ 
I  that  men  tnd  money; 
a^ry  in  lite  field  u. 


.Uhievcd  by  th.  -inu/ of  ^0,1.  jnd  .h.  ^m  of  c^- 

„.nder.  N--' '"  ^^  wi  nf  "r  ^t  once,  ft- 
Franceour   uperior?  You    wu'     '  ,,Hon,  I 

is  lupcrior  m  the  number  of  mrn.      1        VV  ^j_ 

know,  of  tho  two  countt.c.  h»  ^'cn  ,eneu,  v^ 

„aied  in  the  P^P"'"^"  "^'J^'L^r  he  .rue  propoV 
.hisfhould  be  »d""."'^;"^;nhe  men  capable  E(  bear- 
tion  of  the  population,  and  o     he  men  c  j  ^^^ 

ing  arn...  in  .he  b--g.n"'-;«  "»   "^^^^  ;  Vountr,e.  have 

,hc  true  P^»P"""- "^^J'"';;;;  inft  .d  "f  lol'-H  «^^^" 
loft  great  numbers  j  but  ?    "^;;,  ;;",^„  ,;,„„  „  many 

»'■""• '"'e'hrtne!  o"  Va' .he  por-on  of  mea 
men  as  we   Have  none  _  •    V^     ce,  compared 

e.p,bleof  beanng  ---  -  '  '^iJ.  does' not,'']  am 
with   what  Ureal   ornain  «.  ^    ,     ^^ 

perlusded.  exceed  that  "^  '7.;°.,  'J  ;,„  du'rft  not 
There  even  .  br.dse  '>''"'\^ ^^'^tCL  She  know, 
r^'  'Trert^^bl'u  s*L';id"brt:7;ven,e.he  in- 
hovf  ready  nerntinnojui.  readv  her    own  ciM- 

june.  they  have  ^^^^•*'^''^-^ZA"ts  i^Jy  have  loft. 
lens  would  be  to  ^'S""  '^f^,,^]  7,1'  cd^in  .  dHbn: 
could  they  once  lee  all  her  faices  o       p  ^  ^ 

rraai.^;rDovl;,'C;  ^T%nd  .ntothe  Beld  .. 

S;rymenaswecould«ppoc.ga,nfthen  ^^^ 

But,  it  may  be  urged,    all   the   -J'"  '       j    ,„„«  ,^ 

4i,lclierS-No  :  fome  a.e  left  l"  ^-^^  '^^/',„^^    „  perifti 

liftain  the  languors  "'^"""'^f'h.i  country!  So 
in  prifon,  ,«!=?''>"" V'''"£j  oldier.  in  France, 
many,  1  acknowledge,  "«  ""^V^.^^  her  example, 
that  we  muft.  m  a  great  degree     m.»i  .^^^ 

Every  man  who  "''\^P''^J'°^  ^f  the   country, 
»he  mLufaaurej,   and  t^c  commYCc^of^^^  ,,^  ^^J 

Tn^VropTnTannt- "f  U>--  ^^""^^ '"  " '* 

fairly  fought  for.  ^^^^  „tiy« 

As  to  money,  I  "«°."%""l  has  no  means  withm 

difcuffion  on  that  head.     J:;'Wf„„".Jlshe  intends  to 

herfelf  of  providing   for  her  «^»^^         ^^  p.y 

fend  Ihem  ini«  thi»  fiSWilJfi-f'i'***  '"  _j'   ' 


#- 


r  «o  J 

theiti,  ««  The  has  done  in  Italy,  by  plunder,  oi-,  in  tjfii 
trur  fpirit  of  dcfpair,  cancel  her  debts,  by  facrificini 
the  perfonsof  her  foldier*. 

With  refpefl  to  the  valoui-  of  the  French  troops,  I 
have  nothing  to  objeft,  I  know  it  is  a  favourite  opi- 
nion with  many,  that  the  French  are  now  what  their 
incellors  Were  in  the  time  of  Cairar;  "that  in  the 
•'  /r/J  onlet  they  are  more  than  mcoi  but  in  tht/edttid 
"  lets  than  women."  But  it  appears  to  me,  I  muft 
confefs,  that  in  this  war  the  French  have  I'uflained  with 
tourage  many  cn/ets  .'--praife  is  due  to  the  gallantly 
even  of  an  enemy.  But  if  I  were  alkedj  whether  ah 
equal  number  of  Engliihmcn  would  beat  thafe  con- 
querors of  Italy,  I  would  anfwer,  as  an  Englifh  ambif- 
Udor  aniwercda  King  of  Pruffia,  when^  at  a  review  of 
his  forces,  he  alkcd  the  ambaffador,  "  whether  He 
"  thought  that  an  equal  number  Ot  Englifhmen  could 
"  beat  his  Pruflians."— "  I  cannot  tell,"  replied  tho 
•mbaffadorj  "  whether  an  equal  number  would  beat 
"  them  ;  but  1  am  certain  half  the  number  would  try.'' 
I  have  the  firmeft  confidence,  that  fifty  thoufand  Eng- 
lifhmen,  fighting  for  their  wives  and  children,  for  theit 
liberty  and  property,  as  individuals,  for  the  Indepert- 
denccandconftitution  of  their  country,  would,  with- 
biit  hefitatinn,  attack  an  hundred  Ihoulitid  Frcnchtneftt 

As  to  the  relative  fkill  of  the  commanders,  it  would 
ill  become  me  to  give  any  opinion  upon  that  point.  If 
I  were  to  admit  that  the  Fr*nch  generals  are  n»t  tnffc- 
rior  lo  our  own  in  martial  ability,  yet  in  the  local  know- 
ledge of  the  country,  and  in  the  correftnefs  and  fidel- 
ity of  information  they  will  receive,  ours  will  certainly 
have  the  advantage. 

f  But  if  the  French  are  not  our  fuperiors,  either  iti 
"men  or  money,  in  the  valour  of  their  foldiers,  or  tho 
ikill  of  their  commanders,  what  have  we  to  apprehend, 
fhould  we  be  forced  to  fight  them  on  our  own  ground? 
A  thoufand  evils,  no  doubt,  attend  a  country  becoming 
the  feat  of  war,  to  whMi  we  arc  ftrangers,  and  to  which, 
through  the  good  providence  of  God,  and  the  energy 
0li  bur  navy,  we  Ihall  long,  I  trutt,  continue  ftrangers* 


*■ 


I  by  plunder,  cfr,  Jn  tjh« 
Her  debts,  by  facrificing 

of  the  French  troops,  I 
ow  it  is  a  favourite  dpi. 
ich  arc  now  what  their 
Cafar ;    "  that  in    the 
menj  but  in  tht/ecind 
appears  to  me,  1   muft 
nch  have  fuftained  with 
»  due  to  the  gallantry 
k'ere  aiked,  whether  ah 
would  beat  thafe  con- 
■er,  as  an  Englilh  ambif- 
Ha,  whenj  at  a  review  of 
Jaffador,    «•  whether  he 
•er  Oi  Englinimen  could 
nnot   tell,"   replied  ths 
iai  number  would  beat 
he  number  would  try..'* 
hat  fifty  thoufand  Enj. 
■»  and  children,  for  their 
duali,  for  the  Indcpert- 
r  country,  would,  with- 
fd  Ihttulind  FrcntEhineh» 
e  commanders,  it  would 
on  upon  that  point.     If 
Ch  generals  are  n*t  inft. 
,  yet  in  the  local  know, 
le  corrcAners  and  fidel. 
:ive,  ours  will  certainly 

>ur  fuperiors,  either  iki 
3f  their  foldiers,  or  tho 
have  we  to  apprehend, 
m  on  our  own  ground? 
nd  a  country  becoming 
Grangers,  and  to  which, 
God,  and  the  energy 
iiif  continue  ftrangerf. 


# 


c 


It 


^^. 


But  fhould  the  matter  happen  otherwife,  fliouTd  the  en« 
emy,  by  any  untoward  accident,  land  their  forces,  I  fee 
no  rcafon  why  we  fliould  defpair  of  our  country,  if  we 
are  only  faithful  to  ourfelves ;  if,  forgetting  all  p^rty 
Miimofity,  we  (land  collc6ted  as  one  man  againft  them^ 

Many  honed  men,  I  am  feniible,  have  been  alarme4 
into  a  belief,  that  were  the  French  to  invade  tint  coun- 
try,  they  would  be  joined  by  gre»t  numbers  of  diicon. 
tented  men.  This  is  not  my  opinion.  That  they 
would  be  joined  by  a  few  of  the  word  men  in  the  coun> 
try,  by  thieves  and  robbers,  and  outcafts  of  fociety,  it 
probable  enough  ;  but  that  any  individual  poirefling 
either  property  or  charafler,  that  any  refpeftable  body 
«f  men  would  fo  far  indulge  their  difcontents,  as  to 
ruin  their  country  and  thcmfelves,  in  gratifying  theif 
refentment,  is  what  nothing  but  experience  can  con> 
vince  me  of. 

I  have  heard  of  a  Dtflcnter  in  Yorkibire  (a  man  of, 
great  wealth  and  eftimation),  who,  on  the  lad  rejcftio'n 
of  the  petition  for  the  repeal  of  the  teft-aft,  declared  that 
he  would  go  all  lengths  to  carry  his  point— 'but  I  con. 
^der  this  declaration  as  made  during  the  irritation  of 
the  moment,  and  as  oppofite  to  the  general  principles 
of  that  body  of  men.  The  DilFenters  have  on  trying 
occafions  (hewn  their  attachment  to  the  Houfe  of 
firunfwick,  and  the  principles  of  the  Revolution  ;  and 
I  (hould  think  myfelf  guilty  of  calUmny,  if  I  fhould 
fay  that  they  had  in  any  degiee  abandoned  either  their 
attachment  or  their  prin^riples,  or  were  difpofed  to  join 
the  invader<  of  their  country. 

There  is  another  let  of  men  whom  it  feems  the  fa- 
fhion'nf  the  day  to  reprelent  as  enemies  of  the  ftate,  to 
fligmatize  as  republicans,  levellers,  jacobins.  But  VuU 
gar  traduction  of  charader,  party-coloured  reprefenta. 
tion  of  principle,  make  no  imprcllion  on  my  mind  ;  nor 
ought  they  to  malie  any  impreCTion  on  yours.  The 
moftrefpeAableof  thofe  who  are  anxious  for  ihc  reform 
of  parliament,  have  not,  in  my  judgment,  any  views 
]|iollile  to  the  conftitution.  I'hcy  may,  perhaps,  b« 
fniiUHen  in  believing  ta  effcftiMl  reforin  pr<£licabl« 


ilWIr 


^,i 


wif^out  a  rsvoliition  ;  but  few  of  them,  I  *m  perfu«ii- 
crl,  (vi'tiUi  bo  riilpcl  d  to  attain  their  orjcft  with  luth 
a  i./iid  Q.jciicc  accompanving  it  ;  an«l  fewer  ftill  would 
wi(h  t  .  rT'iike  the  cxpeiimept  under  the  aulpicet  of  a 
French  invader, 

'  There  vnny  be  fome  real  republicans  in  the  kingdom  ; 
their  number,  1  an  coiivincerl,  is  extremely  Imall ;  and 
they  are,  prt)bably,  icphblicms  more  in  theory  than 
praftice  ;  they  arV,  j  lobably,  of  the  f*me  fentimenti 
with  the  late  Dr.  Price,  who,  being  aflied  a  few  roonthi 
before  his  death,  whcher  he  really  wilhed  to  fee  a  re- 
public eft»bli(hid  io  Er:glanH,aiiiwcred  in  the  negative, 
"  He  pretcircd,"  he  laid,  '<  a  lepublican  to  a  inonar* 
«'  chical  form  of  government,  when  the  conftilution 
••  was  to  be  formed  anew,  as  in  America  ;  but  in  old 
«•  eftablilhed  governments,  fuch  as  England,  he  thought 
•'the  inirodutlionof  a  republic  would  coft  more  than 
••  it  was  worth,  would  be  auendcd  with  mpre  mifchicf 
*«  than  advantage." 

1  have  a  firm  perfuafion  that  the  French  will  find 
themlclves  difappointed,  if  they  expeftto  be  fupported 
in  their  expedition  by  thcdilcontented  in  this  country, 
They  have  already  made  a  trial  :  the  event  of  it  fhould 
Jower  their  confidence  ;  the  Welch,  of  all  denemina- 
tions,  rulhed  upop  theit  Gallic  enemies,  with  the  im* 
petuoftty  of  ancient  Britons  :  tfeey  difcomfited  them  ii« 
•  moment;  they  fovered  them  with  Ihamc,  and  led 
them  into  captivity,  The  conjmon  people  in  this  for- 
tunate ifland  enjoy  more  liberty,  more  confcquence, 
more  comfort  of  every  kind,  than  the  common  peo- 
ple of  any  other  country  :  and  they  are  not  infenhbl* 
of  their  felicity,  they  will  never  era  the  tree  of  li- 
berty. They  know  it  by  its  fruit  ;  the  bitter  fruit  of 
flavery,  of  contempt,  oppreflion  and  poverty  to  theni-« 
fe)ves,  and  probably  lo  their  p.iftcriiy. 

If  Ireland  is  the  «<l  j  ft  <>f  invafion,  Fr»nce  may  flat- 
ter herlelf,  perhaps,  with  thf  expettation  qf  bc«nj 
more  favourbly  received  there  than  <n  Gicat  Britain  ; 
but  I  trud  /he  will  be  fqually  difappointed  in  bojk 
SMiatrte*,    1  meau  not  tu  enter  into  ihc  polii»c»  ol  ^rf- 


them,  T  mn  perfuiid- 

)cir  orjeft  with  luth 

[and  fewer  Oill  would 

Icr  (he  aulpicei  uF  a 

ans  in  the  kin|;dom  ; 

xtremely  Imall ;  and 
note    in   theory   than 

the  fivnc  fentimenta 
ig  afked  a  few  month* 
ly  wifht'd  to  fee  a  ra- 
vered  in  the  negative, 
publican  to  a  inonar* 
'hen  the  ronftitutton 
America  ;  but  in  old 
s  England,  he  thought 
vould  ecu  more  than 
d  with  more  raifchief 

the  French  will  find 
ixpeEt  to  be  fupported 
ented  in  this  country, 
the  event  of  it  fliould 
'Ich,  of  a|l  denemina- 
enemies,  with  the  im? 
;y  difcomfited  them  in 
with  (hame,  and  led 
on  people  in  thia  for* 
y,  more  confcqucnce, 
lan  the  common  peo- 
hey  are  not  infcniibl* 
cr  e,t&,  the  tree  of  li- 
nt ;  the  bitter  fruit  of 
and  poverty  to  theiq^ 
crity. 

flun,  France  m>y  Qaf- 
expe^aiion  qf  being 
lan  tn  Gicat  Britain  ; 
ciifappointed  iiibo(k 
to  ibc  poh(fc»of  |rf* 


J 


land  ;  but,  conftjering  hrr  as  a  firter  kingdom,   I   can- 
not wholly  omit  advening  to  her  fiiuation. 

I  hook  upon  England  and  Ireland  as  two  bodiea 
which  are  grown  together,  with  different  members  and 
organs  of  feiifc,  but  iiourilhed  by  the  circniaiion  of  lh« 
fame  blood  :  whilft  they  continue  united,  they  will  liv4 
and  prolper ;  but  if  they  fufFer  thcmielves  to  be  fe- 
parated  by  the  force  or  cunning  of  an  enemy  ;  if  ihcy 
quarrel  and  tear  themlelves  alunder,  both  will  indant- 
ly  perifli.  Would  to  God,  that  there  were  equity  and 
moderation  enougih  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  to 
fufFer  imall  Ilaiesto  enjoy  their  independence;  but  the 
Liflory  of  the  world  is  little  elfe  than  the  hiftory  of 
great  ftates  facrifiping  fmall  ones  to  their  avarice  or 
ambition  ;  and  the  prefent  dcfigns  of  France,  through- 
out Europe,  confirm  the  obfervation.  If  Ireland  in 
far  liftcr.s  to  her  rcfcntment  (however  it  hasori;jinated) 
againd  this  kingdom  ;  if  Ihc  lo  far  indulges  her  chagrin 
againfther  own  legillaturc,  as  to  leek  for  redrels  by 
throwing  hrrlclf  into  the  arms  qf  France,  Ihc  will  ba 
undone,  her  freedom  will  be  loft,  fiie  will  be  funk  in 
the  (talc  of  nations  ;  inftead  of  flouriihing  under  the 
prottftion  of  a  fiftcr  ih^t  loves  her,  ih«  will  be  feiiered 
as  a  flave  to  the  feet  of  the  greatefi  dclpot  that  ever  af- 
flifted  human  kind — to  the  feet  of  French  demncracy. 

Let  the  malcontents  in  eveiy  nation  of  Europe  look 
at  Holland,  and  at  Belgium.  Holland  was  an  hive  of 
bees;  her  Ions  flew  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  to  every 
corner  of  the  globe,  and  relumed  laden  with  the  fwects 
of  every  climate.  Belgium  was  a  garden  of  herbs  the 
*xcn  were  ftrong  to  labour,  the  fields  were  thitkly 
covered  with  the  abundance  of  the  haivefl. — Unhappy 
Dutchmen!  You  will  flill  toil,  but  not  for  your  owa 
comfort  ;  you  will  ftill  collea  honey,  but  not  for  your- 
fclves ;  France  will  leiac  the  hive  as  ofien  as  your  in- 
duftry  Ihall  have  filled  it.  Ill-judging  Belgians  !  yoii 
^ill  no  longer  eat  in  fecuflity  the  fruits  of  your  owiv 
grounds  ;  France  will  find  occafion,  or  will  make  or#. 

ufion,.io  fitueifmim'h  ^"y«"^.4«l^"'  'i^^il? 

C  ■  r  . 


■'^:'K 


*# 


a> B-S>l-E-»*-  'f— ^J 


MMF 


•ff^ 


f 


I     >4     3 
wore  truly  falfl  of  yourfelves  than  of  your  oxrn,  *'  you 
|;inugh  the  fii-lrls,  but  not  fur  Y''"r  own  profit  !" 

FV^nce  tliioatcns  us  with  the  payment  of  what  fhe 
Calls  a  ricbt  (if  indciniiificiiiion  i  and  the  longer  we  le- 
fiil  her  efforts  lo  luhdue  u.«,  the  larjjer  fhc  layi  thi» 
cJcbt  will  b-comc  ;  ami  fhe  tells  us,  that  all  Europe 
knows  that  this  debt  mufl  be  paid  one  time  or  other-^ 
And  does  Ihe  think  that  this  fiourifh  will  fright«n  Uk  ? 
P  -  It  ought  to  move  our  conlemjJt,  it  ought  to  fire  u» 
Avith  indignation,  and,  above  all,  it  ought  to  indru^t 
every  mm  ainongd  us  what  we  are  to  expeft,  if  through 
fupinencfs,  cowardice,  or  divifion,  we  luffer  her  mad 
attempt  to  prove  fuctcfsful.  She  may  not  murder  or 
carry  into  llavcry  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  ;  but  un- 
der the  pretence  of  indemnification,  (he  will  demand 
millions  upon  lens  of  millions;  (lie  will  beggar  every 
ni-in  of  property  ;  and  reduce  the  h  »'er  order*  to  the 
ftondition  of  her  osvn  peafants  and  artificer!) — black 
bread,  onions,  and  water. 

France  wlfhes  to  feparale  the  pcQple  from  the  throne  ; 
flic  inveighs,  in  haifl)  language,  ngaind  the  King,  and 
the  cabinet  of  St,  James';  and  (peaks  faiily  to  iho 
people  of  the  land,  But  the  people  of  the  land  arc  too 
v^ile  to  give  head  to  her  profeil-ons  of  kindncfs.  If 
tlicre  be  a  people  in  Europe  on  whom  fuch  praftices 
aie  loft,  it  is  ourfelves.  All  our  people  are  far  better 
educated,  have  far  juftcr  notions  of  government,  far 
more  fhrcwdnefs  in  dftefting  the  defigns  of  thole  who 
would  midead  them,  than  the  people  of  any  other  coun- 
try have,  not  excepting  Switzcrl.ind  iiielf.  There  is 
no  caufe  to  fear  that  French  hypocriiy  fhould  be  fu- 
pcrior  to  Briiilh  fagacity.  Let  Fiance  approach  us 
•with  tha  courage  of  a  lion,  or  witli  'l^e  cunning  of  a 
fox,  we  are  eq  iillv  prepared  to  incei  her  ;  we  cait  re-, 
fift  her  arm^,  .md  we  can  expoi'f  her  artifice. 

France  roproache*  us  with  beit;g  the  tyrants  of  th© 
ecean  ;  and  we  all  retnombor  the  armed  neutrality, 
which  was  enteied  into  by  the  inariiiiiic  "^  es  of 
j^uiope  during  the  American  w^ir.  It  otiginated,  at 
^jlf  ^<iid,  fiOin  our  airuinrng  •  (lu;ai|iioii  Oii  ilvi  ica, 


!^»mktilUtrttui>imitiUmmiititm  iiinliiii'Mimftii  i 


"fttfifummi: 


f  your  oxpn,  *•  you 

wii  profit  !" 

yrrciii  of  wlial   fhe 

ihc  hingcr  we  le- 

rgfr    fhc    lav*  thii 

IS,  thdt  all    Europo 

ne  time  or  olher— 

1  will    frighten  uk  ? 

t   ought    to   fire   us 

t   ought  to   inflru^t 

o  cxpfft,  if  through 

wc  luffer  her  trnd 

may   not  murder  or 

the  land  ;  but  un- 

n,   (he  will  demand 

he  will  beggar  every 

•  cr  orders  to  tiie 

nd   artihccr^ — black 

pie  from  the  throne  ; 
lainft  the  King,  and 
fpcaks  faiiiy  to  the 
e  of  the  land  are  ton 
>ns  of  kindncft.  If 
kvhom  fuch  praflices 
•eople  arc  far   better 

of  government,  far 
Ithgns  of  thole  who 
le  of  any  other  coun- 
.id  iiielf.  There  is 
ncriiy  fhould  be  fu- 
Fiancc  approaLh  u> 
(I)  '.lie  cunning  of  a 
cei  her  ;  we  cait  re-. 
er  artifice. 

(J  the  tyrants  of  ih© 
:    ^rmed    neutrality, 

mariiiiiic  "  es  of 
r.      Ii  oiiginaied,  its 


I 


.'W)'V"".'!f!p^*' 


which  the  law  of  nations  did  not  allow.  T  cannot  en- 
ter into  ihcdiiculTion  of  this  qucftion  here  5  and  it  is 
Ids  neceff  ry  to  do  it  any-whi  r«-,  »f  i*  h'>s  bten  ably 
dikiifTcd  mifiy  gears  ago.  I  (inccitly  hope  the  ivcu- 
laiion  againft  us  is  iwiijuft;  for,  no  tyrJinny  eiihcr  CRfi 
be,  or  ought  10  be  lifting.  I  am  an  niter  eiiemy  to  ail 
dominionfdutidcd  in  more  power,  unaccompanied  with 
a  juft  legatd  to  the  rigl:is  of  individuals  or  nations. 
C.-ntinental  ftalfS,  however,  ought  to  rr.jkc  fomc  iiU 
|o«'aiicc  for  our  zeal  in  claiming,  and  our  cfierp,y  in 
niaiiitain<iig,  a  liiperioiitv  at  Tea;  our  inlnlar  hniati'-n 
gives  us  a  right  which  they  cannot  plead  ;  they  ha^•e 
forirtlTei  for  their  defence  ajjainll  their  enemies  ;  hut 
fleets  are  the  fori refl'es  of  Great  Britain. 

Wc  wi(h  to  p^felerve  our  fuperiority  at  fea  for  our 
own  advantage,  but  other  nations  are  rot  uninfrreftrd 
in  our  doing  it.  If  by  the  voluntary  afii (lance  of  Spaiit 
and  Holland,  by  the  conllraincd  concuricnca  of  vhat 
was  \'^eiiice,  by  the  improvident  acquielcence  of  RufTia, 
Sweden,  Denmark,  and  the  01  her  naval  pmveis  oiF 
Europe  or  America,  the  trident  of  ihc  ocesti  (for  loino 
one  nnlioti  muft  polTcIs  it)  fliould  be  iransfeiicd  fi'in 
Great  Bi  jiaiii  to  France,  they  will  all  h»*e  caufe  to  la- 
ment its  having  exchanged  its  mifler.  They  may  at 
preieni  ihink  otherwiie,  and  be  pleated  with  the  profp.  ft 
©four  humiliation  (I  fpeak  not  this  as  if  1  though:  fh.it 
huiniliaiion  would  happen,  for  no  man  has  an  hgher 
confidence  in  our  navy  than  1  have,)liut  I  (peak  il  will 
a  prophetic  warning  to  tiioie  nation;.,  that  they  ""V  '<* 
the  error  of  their  pt)litics  before  it  becomes  impofnile 
to  retrieve  it.  If  J-'rance  becoires  as  great  by  lea  as  fha 
is  become  by  land,  Europe  will  have  no  hope,  but  that 
her  chains  may  be  light. 

The  channels  of  commerce,  were  they  open  alike  t« 
the  enterprize  of  all  nations,  are  fo  numerous  and  co- 
pious in  the  four  quarters  of  the  gl«>be.  that  the  induRrjr 
pf  all  the  manufatlurers  in  Europe  might  he  folly  em- 
ployed in  f'ipplying  them.  America  is  doubling  her 
numbers,  and  will   fur  many   ycitt   watii  lupplics  frool' 


<#■ 


i»««*ii--..**»S#H*«(!»i|^;j!^.,^^^^ 


atoa"ti>,i»niirtiiiMiiiii''i»- 


"Kvmnif: 


"VT 


i<r 


C     ,6     ] 

l^e  iTiiniifnftorifs  of  Great  Britain.  Africa  M-ill  m 
littir  civilize  her  millions,  ^nd  afford  for  centuries  a 
markpt  for  the  con'iinodilies  of  fli  Europe.  What  fdilyr 
is  a  then  in  civriized,  vhai  wickednefs  in  Chriftiart 
ftates,  to  be  engaged  every  ten  or  twenty  years  in  dei- 
troyinj}  millions  of  men,  for  the  proteftion  or  the  acquifi- 
lion  of  arbitrary  monopolies  ? 

'  There  ilill  remains  another  fubjeft  which  I  am  mofl 
•tixious  to  recommend  to  your  lerions  confideration— 
the  attempts  of  bad  men  to  rob  you  of  your  religion. 
|,  It  isnow  fomewhat  more  th^n  feventy  years,  fince 
certain  men  who  efteemcd  ihemfclves  philolbphers,  and 
»/ho,  unqueftionably,  were  men  of  talents,  began  irt 
different  parts  of  the  continent,  but  efpecially  in  France 
•  nd  Germany,  to  attack  the  Chriftiaii  religion.  The 
delign  has  been  carried  on  by  them  and  others,  under 
various  denominations,  from  that  time  to  the  prefeni 
hour.  In  order  to  accomplilh  their  end,  they  Have 
publiftjcd  an  itifinity  of  books,  fome  of  themdiflin- 
guiihed  by  wit  and  ridicule,  unbecoming  the  vaft  im- 
portance of  the  fubjeft,  and  all  (luffed  with  falfe  quo- 
tations and  ignorant  or  dcftp[ned  mifrcprefentations  of 
Scripture,  or  filled  with  obje£lirnt  agxinft  human  cor- 
ruptions of  faith,  and  for  which  Chridianity  cannot  be 
accountable. 

A  fimilar  attempt,  I  have  reafon  to  believe,  has  for 
fome  years  been  carrying  on  amongft  ourfelves,  and 
by  the  fame  means.  Irreligioua  pamphlets  have  been 
circulated  with  great  indudry,  fold  at  a  fmall  price,  or 
given  away  to  the  lowed  of  the  people,  in  every  great 
town  in  the  kingdom.  The  prophane  ftyle  of  thefe 
pamphlets  is  fuited  to  the  tade  of  the  wicked,  and  the 
confident  aflcrtions  which  they  contain  are  well  calcu- 
latea  to  impole  on  the  underdanding  of  the  unlearned  ; 
•nd  it  is  among  the  wicked  and  the  ignorant  that  the 
enemies  of  religion  and  government  are  endeavoring  to 
propagate  their  tenets. 

It  is  here  fuppoled  that  (he  enemies  of  religion  art 
alfo  enemies  -of  government  ;  but  this  mu(t  be  undcr- 
ftood   with  fome  ledridien.      There  are,  it  may   be 


"i';.iipn.i|mi^il».i 


.'.  1*111.  >JiJjlWf!l"f^pyill-liUii|iilWiiW»pfWI^--' 


iin.  Afiica  M-ilJ  in 
ifTord  for  centuries  a 
Europe,  What  fnllyr 
kednefs  in  Chriftiatt 
iwenty  '/ears  in  deC- 
leftionor  the  acquifi. 

ft  which  I  am  moti 
;rioijs  ronfideration— . 
u  of  your  religion. 

feventy   years,  fince 
lvesphilo(ophers,  and 
of  talents,    heg;»n    in 
lit  cfpecially  in  France 
■iftiaii    religion.     The 
n   and  others,    under 
tirne   to   the   prefent 
their  end,   they  have 
fome  of   ihetndiflin- 
fcotning  the  vaft  im- 
tuffed  with  fajfe  quo- 
mi  frcprelentitions  of 
i«  againft  human   cor- 
Chriftianity  cannot  be 

3n  to  believe,  has  for 
longft  nurfelvea,  and 
pamphlets  have  been 
d  at  a  fmal!  price,  or 
cople,  in  every  great 
nphane  ftyle  of  thcfe 
the  wicked,  and  the 
>ntain  are  well  calcu- 
ingof  the  unlearned  ; 
^e  ignorant  that  the 
int  arc  endeavoring  to 

Ernies  of  religion  are 
t  this  mu(i  be  under- 
here  are,  it  may   be 


^li"  itmmAii»it]mji^, 


•  *  [    »7    3 

faM,  msny  dcifts  in  this  country,  who  sre  fenfible  of 
the  advantages  of  a  regular  government,  and  whci 
would  be  as  unwilling  as  the  moft  orthodox  believers  in 
the  kingdom,  ihat  our  own  (hould  be  overlurned — this 
way  be  true — but  it  is  true  alfo,  that  they  who  wi(h  to 
overthrow  the  government  are  not  only,  generally 
fpcakinw,  unbelievers  themfelves,  but  that  ihey  found 
their  hopes  of  fuccefs  in  the  infidelity   of   the  common 

f)eoplr.  They  are  fenfible  that  no  gr.vernment  can 
ong  fublift,  if  the  bulk  of  the  people  have  no  rever- 
ence for  a  Supreme  Being,  no  fear  of  perjury  ;  no  ap. 
firehenfjou  of  futurity,  no  check  froin  coiilcicnce  ;  and 
orefeeingthe  rapine,  devaflation,  and  bloodfhed,  which 
ufually  attend  the  lafl  convullions  of  a  (late  (Iruggling 
for  its  political  exiftcnce,  they  wifh  to  prepare  proper 
sftors  for  this  dread rul  cataftrophe,  by  brutalizing  man- 
kind  ;  for  it  is  by  religion  more  than  any  other  principle 
of  human  nature,  that  men  are  didinguifhed  from 
brutes. 

The  mafs  of  the  people  has,  in  all  ages  and  countries, 
been  the  mean  of  elfedluating  gi'cat  revolutions,  both 
good  and  bad.  Thephyfical  ftrength  of  the  bulk  of  a  na- 
tion is  irrefiftible,  but  it  is  incapable  of  felf-dircftion.  It 
is  the  inflrument  which  wile,  brare,  and  virtuous  men 
ufe  for  the  extinftion  of  tyranny,  under  whatever  form 
of  government  it  may  exift  ;  and  it  is  the  inftrument 
alfo,  which  men  of  bad  morals,  defperate  fortunes,  and 
licentious  principles,  ufr  for  the  fubvcrfton  of  every 
government,  however  juft  in  its  origi.i,  however  equi- 
table in  its  adminiltration,  however  conducive  to  the 
ends  for  which  fociety  has  been  eftablipied  among  man- 
kind. It  is  againft  the  machinations  of  thete  men,  fe- 
cret  or  open,  folitary  or  alTociated,  that  I  with  to  warn 
you  ;  they  will  firft  attempt  to  pertuade  you  that  there 
IS  nothing  after  death,  no  heaven  for  the  good,  nor  hell 
for  the  wickeii,  that  there  is  no  God,  or  none  who  re- 
gards your  atlions  ;  and  when  you  (hall  be  convinced 
of  this,  they  will  think  you  properly  prepared  to  perpe- 
trate every  crime  which  may  be  accsiTary  for  the  fur- 
1  -•  •jme»u-  •  -•-.'* 


':^^ft:ik^i,^-^Lu^i:.e^  ■'^"^■■■^"^■'■' 


'iiSf 


r,  i'<'«*'*#«anp««<iM<MMa« 


mill  I  wiiiifiam,  Jiiijuit 


therance  of  iheir  own  rfefigns,  fir  tTie  grjtification    of 
(heir  dmbiiion,  ihcir  avirior,  or  tlveir  revi-nge. 

No  civil,  no  cctlefLiflicil  coriftitulion  can  be  fo 
formfd  by  liumnn  wifdoni  as  lo  adrtiii  of  no  improve- 
mtni  upon  an  iticrcafe  of  wKVJdm  ;  «s  to  rrquirc  no  al- 
tciaiiuo,  when  an  ahcraiion  in  jhc  knowledge,  nrrn. 
iifrs,  opinions,  and  circumftanccs  of  a  people  has  t;ik:i» 

fl  ice.  But  Then  o'jght  lo  have  the  modfrty  lo  kruisv 
IT  what  ihcy  arc  fitted,  and  the  di(creiion  to  confino 
tlioir  exertions  to  lubjiflgof  which  ihey  have  a  compe- 
tent knowltd^'.". 

Thtrc  is  perhaps  little  difference  in  the  ftrength  of 
memory,  in  the  acytenelj  of  dircernn:riii,  in  the  lolidiiy 
cif  j.idj^nient,  in  art)  of  the  intelleftual  power*  on  which 
knowledce  depends,  between  a  (IrftehTisn  and  a  manu. 
faftiirer,  between  the  inoft  learned  dirineaiid  a  mecha. 
riic  :  the  chief  difference  confifls  in  their  t;  ienti  being 
applied  to  diffrrent  (ubjtfts.  All  promt. tc  both  the  pub- 
lic giod,  and  their  own,  when  tJiey  aft  within  their 
proper  fpheres,  and  all  do  harm  to  themlelves,  and 
others,  when  thev  go  out  of  th;:m.  You  would  view 
with  contempt  a  ftatcfmen,  who  flionld  undertake  to 
rejjulate  a  gieat  manufaftory  without  having  been 
broufjht  up  to  bufinels-,  or  a  divine,  who  (hould  become 
a  mechanic  without  having  learned  his  trade  ;  but  is 
not  a  mechanic,  or  manufafturcr,  ftill  more  miichiev- 
ous  and  ridittilous  who  afl'efts  to  become  a  llaletman,  or 
to  (blve  the  difficulties  which  occur  in  divinity?  Now 
tliis  is  precilely  what  the  men  I  am  cautioning  you 
Bgairift  wilb  you  :o  do — they  hai  angue  you  on  the  difor- 
ders  of  our  conTlituiion,  and  propolc  remedies  ;  they 
propound  to^ou  (ublilties  in  metaphyfics  and  divinity,  . 
and  dfftre  you  to  e.cplnin  them  ;  and  becaufe  you  are 
not  prepared  to  do  this,  or  to  anfvvcr  alt  their  ebjetlions 
to  our  government,  tl»ey  call  upon  you  to  rejeft  religi- 
on, natural  and  revealed,  as  inipoflures,  and  to  break 
up  the  conftiiution  of  the  country,  as  an  enormoua 
mals  of  incurable  Ciurupfion. 

Noone,  I  iruit,    will  iufpcft   the   writer  of  contend* 


f-firitiiAtoii  iM)ft<n»nhiOy«HjiirnKiiiinir<tiiiir[i<iliiiiiiiif  1  iliJiiniWSxWinuaiiiy  iiriiHi»»i»»ii.tBmiiK(itV^igj^fe  .  .-^- 


-"'mrmmmmfwwvm-^m 


^mn^fmum 


Hjwm^iiiwiw  'M 


w^mnmmmm. 


•VP'fVWMII'PI'^'^ 


ir  the  grafiflcjtion  of 
Kir  rcvfnge. 
nnitiiiion  Citn  be  fo 
idaiii  of  no  improve- 
I ;  as  to  ifq'iire  no  a!. 
liic  knowledge,  mm. 
I  of  a  people  has  t;ik:n 
the  modfrty  lo  kri(i\i/ 
'  difcrejion  (o  confine 
;h  ii:cy  hdve  a  cumpe> 

nee  in  the  ftrcngth  of 
rnntrnt,  in  the  lolidiiy 
filial  power*  on  which 
(l<iiclm»n  and  a  manu. 
d  divine  and  a  mecha. 
i  in  ihcir  hienii  being 
prom(.tc  both  the  pub. 

iJiey  aft  within  their 
in  to  themlelves,  and 
m.  You  would  view 
>  (hoiild  undertake  fo 
vithout  having  beea 
e,  who  (bould  become 
ned  his  trade  ;  but  it 
r,  ft  ill  more  milchiev- 
jecome  »  llaietman,  or 
:ur  in  divinity  ?   Now 

1  am  cautioning  you 
nguc  you  on  the  difor. 
apofc  remedies  ;  they 
aphyfics  nnd  divinity, 

and  becaufe  you  are 
•er  all  tlicir  «ibjeftion$ 
n  you  to  rejcft  religi. 
»()ftures,  and  to  break 
try,  as  an  enormoua 

le  writer  of  contend* 


E 


r  '9  1 

ing  that  great  abufcs  in  church  or  ftate  ought  to  he 
crpfiuatc-d,  or  o(  wilhing  that  any  one  dogma  «1  our 
i)ly  iclig'on  (Ik'uIJ  net  be  diriulTcd  with  decent  free- 
dom (for  'he  more  rtligion  i»  tried,  I  lie  more  it  will  be 
rtfiued);  but  he  d  es  contend  that  the  faith  of  un- 
learned Chiifliars  (luglu  not  to  be  fliaken  by  lies  and 
bialphemics  ;  he  decs  contend  that  it  is  better  to  toler- 
ate abufcs,  till  i.'uy  can  be  reformfil  by  the  courileU 
of  ihe  wiltfl  and  the  bed  men  in  the  kingdom,  than  lo 
iubniit  the  rcmov.il  of  th.m  to  the  froihy  frequenters 
of  alc-h()u!e,s,  to  the  diltlaimers  agnynft  our  eflablifh. 
ment,,  lo  the  milerable  dregs  of  the  nation  who  feck 
lor  diflii.tlion  in  public  confufioii.  An  ancient  fa- 
briik  may  by  mere  force  be  defaced  and  chrown  down  ; 
but  It  requites  ths  knowledge  and  caution  of  an  archi- 
ll ft  to  Dvaiuify  anJ  repair  it.  You  are  fenfible  that 
the  mofl  ingenious  piece  «if  mechaniim  may  be  Ipoiled 
by  the  play  of  a  child,  or  broken  to  pieces  by  the  blow 
of  an  ideot  or  a  ma-Jnian  ;  and  can  you  think  that  the 
machine  of  government,  the  mod  ingenious  and  com- 
plicated of  .ill  others,  may  nil  at  once  be  defpoiled  of 
all  its  elegance,  and  deprived  of  all  its  funftions,'by 
the  rude  and  bungling  attempts  of  the  uiilkilful  to 
amend  its  motion  P 

1  have  HOC  time  to  lay  before  you  the  rife  and  pro- 
grefs  of  that  infidelity  vi^ith  refpeft  lo  revealed  reli- 
gion— of  that  fccpticifm  with  reipeft  to  natural  reli- 
gion — of  that  infanity  with*  refpeft  to  government, 
which  have,  by  their  combined  influence,  overwhelmed 
V'ith  calamity  one  of  the  mightieil  ftaies  in  Europe, 
and  which  nunace  with  deftruftion  every  other,  I 
have  not  lime  to  (hew  you  by  detailed  quotations  from, 
the  writings  of  the  French  and  German  philofopheis— 
that  the  luperftition  of  the  church  of  Rome  made  them 
infidels— that  a  mifapprehcnfion  of  the  extent  of  hu- 
man knowledge  made  them  fceptics — and  that  the 
tyranny  of  the  continental  governments  made  them 
enemies  of  all  government,  except  of  tlut  (illy  fyflein 
of  deinocratic  liberty  and   equality,  which  uever  hat 


■  jfiiii  ill  i<  i»  ni,i>ij<H«moif»j|i  t 


'**^is®ar^,'. 


n 


lii^AifriSfui 


S 


"•'?»:  ^li"' 


,  .-:  -  .  [  "  3  -  -.  V  ■  '-  ■ 
liicl,  nor  ever  can  have  a  permiment  efliblidiment  •• 
mongd  mankind. 

Tnough  I  cantua,  in  thi»  fhort  and  general  addrcfi, 
enter  fully  or  deeply  into  ihelc  mattsia,  I  ni.iy  be  al. 
lowed  to  fay  to  thcle  philoCophers — How  has  it  h.ip- 
pcned  thai  men  of  your  penetration,  in  (hunniiig  ona 
vice,  have  fallen,  like  fooU,  into  its  oppofne  ?  Doea 
it  fiillow  that  Jefus  Chrifl  wrought  no  miracles,  be- 
caulc  the  church  of  Rome  has  pretended  to  work  many  ? 
Docs  it  follow  that  the  apodles  were  not  honed  men, 
becaule  there  have  been  priefts,  hifhops,  and  popet 
who  weie  hypocrites  P  Is  the  Chridian  religion  to  bo 
ridiculed  as  more  abfurd  than  psganifm,  to  be  vilified 
as  lefa  credible  thm  Mahometanilm,  to  be  rcprelentud 
8$  impious  and  abominable,  bccaufc  men,  in  oppofition 
to  every  precept  of  Chrid,  and  to  every  praftice  of  ih« 
apodles,  have  woi  Ihipped  images,  prayed  to  dead  men, 
believed  in  iranfubdantiation,  granted  indulgences, 
•rcfled  inquifitions,  and  roadcd  honed  men  alive  for  not 
complying  with  their  fuperdition 

With  refpcft  to  natural  religion,  I  would  fay  to 
them' — You  complain  that  you  cannot  comprehend  tho 
creation  of  the  univerfe,  nor  the  providence  of  God  ; 
and  is  this,  your  want  of  ability  to  become  as  wife  at 
your  Maker,  a  reafon  for  doubling  whether  there  ever* 
was  a  creat'an,  and  whether  there  is  a  providence  f 
What  (Iv  ...d  you  think  of  a  ned  of  reptiles,  which^ 
being  immured  in  a  dark  corner  of  one  of  the  lowed 
aparimenis  of  a  magnificent  houfe,  diould  aflcft  to  ar- 
gue ag»ind  the  houfe  having  ever  been  built,  or  it«  'f. 
being  then  taken  care  of.  You  are  thofc  reptiles  with 
refpe£t  to  \  ir  knowledge  of  the  time  when  Cod 
created,  apd  in;  manner  in  which  he  dill  takes  care  of 
the  world. — You  cannot,  you  tell  us,  reconcile  the 
omnilcience  of  God  with  the  freedom  of  man---it  this 
a  reafon  for  your  doubting  of  the  freedom  which  you 
fpel  you  poffefs,  or  of  the  power  of  God  to  underftand 
the  nature  of  what  he  has  made  ?— You  cannot  com- 
prehend how  it  is  poffible'  for  an  itniqaterial  being  to 


iii<i    ifiiaii*iiili1<tiWlAiMBiiriM<iKli^**tMia«iliYiitili(iBj 


' "niwmf^fmtmmf^ 


ament   efliblidiment  a* 

rt  and  general  addrcTj, 
malteii,  I  ni.iy  be  al. 
!icrs — How  has  it  h.ip- 
ition,   in  niuiiniiig    ono 

0  i(s  oppofite  ?  Does 
ought  no  miracles,  bc- 
etcnded  towork  many  ? 
were  not  honcll  men, 
Us,  bifhops,  and  popes 
Chrtdian  religion  to  be 
aganifm,  to  be  vilified 
lil'm,  to  be  icpreCentL-il 
ufc  men,  in  oppofitina 
to  every  pra£lice  of  tbo 
:8,  prayed  to  dead  men, 

granted  indulgences, 
honed  men  alive  for  noc 
n 

ligion,  I  would  fay  to 
annot   comprehend  the 

providence  of  God  ; 

tn  become  as  wife  as 
ing  whether  there  ever 
lerc  it  a  providence  f 
:ft  of  reptiles,   which, 

of  one  of  the  loweft 
fe,  (hould  ifieEt  to  ar. 
vcr  been  built,  or  its 
are  thole  reptiles  witb 
F  the  time  when  God 
h  he  ftill  takes  care  of 
tell  us,  reconcile  the 
scdoin  of  man— is  this 
e  freedom  which  you 
of  God  to  underftand 
?— You   cannot   com« 

1  imiqaterial  being   to 


Miwi"-' 


•..MWH-y.||l|ll,|p||,IH„,i,,l,  ••WtT't-^  »l  Will  .  iM»p^||ppwW|Wi»||llWIIIIII||)>PBpW(|^|ptlW»yil»i| 

[  «t  ]■ 

\ie  p'ftcd  upon  by  material  orgnna  of  fenfe— w?ll  vrwt, ' 
tlicrcfore  denv   the    cxiftcnce   iif  ynur  (oul    as    a  Ivib-' 
ftance  diflinft  from  your  body  ?   Uo  you  not  uercciva 
fhat  it  iTiiifl  equiUv   lurpals    your  nndrrd.niiling   ho\y     * 
mailer,   afling  upon  matter,  can  pr<iduce  /iny  thing  but 
motion;   can    give    rile    lo    nercoption,    ilioiij^hf,    will, 
mernorv,  to  all  ihofc  inicllcflual  powers,  by    which  arts 
»n(f  Iciciicps  are  invented  and  indc finitely  tniproveJ  ? 

With  iclpcdt  to  government,  I  wouM  lay  to  ihcm  — 
A'liniiting  thai  liicrc  is  a  natural  equality  ainongil  min- 
kiiid,  does  it  follow  that  there  may  not  he.  orihst  there 
oiinht  not  !o  be  an  inltiiuled  inequality  ?  AdniiittJiig 
that  men,  before  they  enter  into  iociety,  arc  free  from 
the  dominion  of  each  other,  does  it  follow  that  they 
may  not  voluntarily  relinquilh  the  liberty  uf  a  ftatc  of 
nature,  in  order  that  they  may  enjoy  the  comfort  and 
obtain  the  fccurity  of  a  (late  of  Iociety  ?  Can  there  bo 
no  juft  government,  becaufe  there  is  and  has  been 
nMich  opprellion  i»  the  world,  no  political  freedom  in 
Great  Britain,  becaufi  there  was,  during  fhc  monar- 
chy, little  in  France  j  where  there  is,  probably,  ftill 
If  Is  than  fhe^re  was  i*  Does  it  follow  that  there  ought 
to  be  no  dillinftion  in  fociety,  with  rcfpcft  to  rank  or 
riches,  becaufe  there  are  none  in  a  (late  of  nature  ; 
though  nature  herleW  has  made  a  great  difference 
amongft  the  imliviifuals  of  our  fpecies  as  to  health, 
ftrengih,  judgm;nt,  genius,  as  to  all  thole  poweia 
which,  cither  i-i  a  flHe  of  nature  or  fociety,  ncccfTarilv 
become  the  caufes  and  occ:i!ions  of  the  luperiority  of 
One  man  over  another?  I-)oes  it  fdllow  that  rich  men 
ought  to  be  plundered,  and  rh^n  of  rank  degraded,  be- 
caufe a  few  may  be  found  in  every  (late  who  hav« 
abufed  their  prc-eminTnce,  or  mifapplied  iheir  wealth  ? 
In  a  word,  docs  it  follow  that  there  ought  to  be  no  re- 
ligion, no  government,  noiubordination  amongll  men, 
bccauic  religion  may  degenerate  into  (uperftition,  go- 
vernment into  tyranny,  and  fubordination  into  fl.ivery? 
As  rcalonably  might  it  be  argueJ,  that  there  ou^ht  to 
be  no  winc,bccaule  fome  men  may  become  drunkards-; 
luo  incar,  bccauic  i'ume  men  may  becotna  gluttons  )  no 
■        ,       ,      C  a 


% 


-.1 


«ip<mvp^v"M>*vi'*w>i4P**rvipV^PVT'Wwr* 


I  ■■  wnwymwfifr 


C   •«    1 

«ir,  no  fif^,  no  wnter,  becaufe  thefe  naturtt  foareet  oT 
'geiiersl  felicity  may  icctdtnully  bccoms  iudrumcntt  of 
p^riijl  caUmtty. 

He  who  perules  wJih  attention  the  work*  of  tliofe 
Toreignert,  who  for  the  Uft  leventv  or  eighty  year*  havo 
written  ag»in(l  revealed  or  natural  rcli|{ion,  and  com- 
pares ihptn  with  the  writing*  of  our  Englifh  dcifts  to- 
w.\rds  the  end  of  the  Uft,  and  the  beginning  or  mid'llo 
of  the  prelent  ccntvirv.  will  perceiv«  thai  (he  former 
h-ive  borrowed  afl  their  argiimints  and  objr£iion»  from 
the  latter  ;  he  will  perceive  alio,  that  they  are  far  in- 
fciior  to  them  in  learning  and  accutencis,  but  that 
they   furpafa    ihem   in  iridicule,  i       audacity,  in   biil- 

Jhemy,  in  mifreprefentation,  in  all  the  milerablc  trta 
y  which  men  are  wont  to  defend  a  bad  caule  :  they 
Itirpat'*  them  too  in  their  mifchicvous  cndcavori  i« 
^iflTcminaie  their  principle*  among  thofe  who,  from 
their  education,  are  Uail  qualified  to  refute  iheir  lo- 
pkiftry. 

jultly  may  we  call  their  reafoning  fophiftry,  fince 
it  was  not  able  to  convince  even  themlrlvei.  One  off 
the  moft  eminent  of  them  (Voltaire,)  who  had  been  t 
thciil,  «  miieriwlifl,  a  difbeliever  of  a  future  (late  aU 
his  days,  aiked  with  evident  anxiety  a  few  year*  before 
his  death,  Ja  there  a  Gnd  iuch  ■•  men  fpeak  of  p  1«. 
there  a  iou)  Iuch  as  people  imagine  P  la  there  any  thing 
•0  l<ope  for  after  death  P  He  feema  to  h»«e  been  con* 
iftUent  in  nothing,  but  in  his  hatred  of  that  gofpel  whick 
-would  h«ve  enlightened  the  obfcurity  in  which  he  was 
involv<;d,  and  at  once  dilFipated  all  his  doubts.  As  to 
})is  notion*  of  government,  he  appears  to  have  been  at 
unleiiled  in  them  »•  in  hi«  religious  (entiments  ;  for 
'though  he  hadiieen  one  of  the  mod  zealous  apoftles  of, 
9iberty  and  equality,  though  he  had  attacked  monarchic 
•cal  governments  in  all  his  writings  with  great  bitter- 
•nefs,  yethe  at  laft  confc<red'te  one  of  the  greatefl  prir>« 
•ct*  then  m  Europe,  *'  that  he  did  not  love  the  ^o. 
■wxrnmcnt  of  the  ;low©ft  orders — that  he  <did  not  'Wfifll 
tbe  .rc^UabliOiineatUf  Athenian  democncju" 


3    . 

hefe  naluril  toareet  oT 
f  becoms  inftruincnti  of 

r»n  the  work*  of  thofo 
intv  orcigihty  yrar»  havo 
ur»I  ri-li|{iim,  and  com- 
f  our  Englilh  doifts  lo- 
\e  beginning  or  mid-Jlo 
:rceiv.:  rhat  ihc  former 
nti  and  objciiions  from 
ll'o,  that  they  arc  far  iri- 
d  accutencis,  but  that 
,  i  .  audacity,  in  bUl'- 
1  all  the  miici-ablc  arti 
end  •  bad  caulc  :  they 
chicvout  endeavors  i« 
long  thofe  who,  from 
&cd  to  refute  their  io- 

ifom'ng  fophiftry,  fince 
5n  thcmrclvea.     One  of 
aire,)  who   had  been  • 
cr  of  a   future   ftatc  »H 
tiety  a  few  year*  before 
■•  men  fpeak   of  ?     I« 
le  ?   Is  there  any  thing 
m»  to   ha^e  been  con- 
ed of  that  gofpel  which 
urity  in  which  he  was 
all  hi*  doubts.     A*  to 
ipeera  to  have  been  h 
giou*  fentjment*  ;  for 
oft  lealou*  apoftle*  o€ 
lad  attacked  monarchi- 
igs   with  great   bitter- 
leaf  the  greatefl  prir»- 
did   not  love  ihe  ;go- 
hat  he  idid    not  VfiBa. 
democrx^" 


T    •3    1 

Su^h  tre  the  incnnfiflencic*  of  men- whom,  by  their 
profane  difpmai ion  aaiinll  religion,  have  difturbed  the 
c..>Micicnle»  of  individu,iU;  who,  by  their  (enlciel*  rail, 
ing  agiiiifl  governmi-'nt,  have  endangried  the  tranijuil. 
lityof  every  n^siou  in  Europe  1  And  it  ii  tgainll  luth 
mm  I  warn  vou. 

Aie  ^iiyof  V'>u  oppreffed  with  poverty,  difcafe,  and 
wrcic  \c(lnel»P  Let  none  of  thrfe  m^n  beguile  you  of 
yourl).  lief  iliat  "  God  is,  .nd  that  he  ia  the  rewarder 
"  of  (hem  that  rtitigciiily  (ci-k  him,"— *'ihe  prcteftor 
I' of  them  thattnift  ill  him."— Aieany  of  you  afflided 
in  min<l.  riclpairing  of  mercy  through  the  mullilude  of 
•your  liiu  ?  Let  none  of  tlieie  men  Itigijer  your  per- 
ruafion  that  the  gofpel  is  true;  for  therein  you  will 
read  that  •'  Jclus  Chri ft  carnc  into  the  world  to  lave 
•*'  rinnett  :" — irpent,  and  the  gofpel  will  give  you  con- 
iolation.  Arc  any  of  you  prolpcrou*  in  your  circum. 
ftanccs,  and  eafy  in  your  conioience*  ?  Let  none  of 
thefc  men  by  declaiming  againft  defefts  in  our  confti- 
:tution,  or,  abufes  in  government,  betray  y«u  into  an 
•opinion  that,  were  the  prelent  order  o|  things  over- 
turned, a  better  miijht,  by  their  counfels,  be  eftabliftj- 
ed  ;  for,  by  their  counleU,  you  would  cither  be  plui»- 
de.edofyour  property,  or  compelled  to  become  their 
•ccomplices  in  impiety  and  iniquity.  See  what  ha« 
happened  in  France  to  all  orders,  to  the  common  peo- 
pie  as  well  as  to  the  nobility.  ««  The  little  finger  of 
•*'  their  republic  has  become  thicker,  more  opprellive 
••  to  Uic  whole  nation,  than  the  loins  of  their  monarchy.; 
-••  they  were  ch.iftilcd  with  whips,  they  ave  .chaftitcd 
■*•  With  icrpions." 

I  am  not  altogeiher.jnfenfible  of  the  danger  I  m»y 
ihavc  incurred  (nv>uld  matters  come  to  extremity),  by 
•thus  publicly  addrelfing  my  countrymen.  1  might 
rhave  concealed  mv  Icniiments,  and  waited  in  rctire- 
•mcnt,  till  the  ftruggle  had  been  over,  and  the  iffuo 
iknown  ;  bui  I  dildain  Irfctf  aocompanied  with  diftxo- 
*iour.  When  HannibrtI  is  at  the  gates,  v/ho'but  a  prtl- 
itroon  would  lifttn  to  the  liinid  counlcls  of  neutralu);, 
tor^ltetupt  to  Icrccn  himidlf  from  Ihc  ucalaniiij  xoniii^ 


V 

r 


C  t4ri* 

en  his  country,  tv  tkulking  as  a  vagabond  amid  tT,« 
inouiitjins  of  W.iles  or  of  Weflmnielaud  ?  I  am  rea- 
dy, and  I  am  perluadcd  tliat  I  cntcriain  a  juft  ronfidence 
in  Living,  that  hundreds  of  thoufands  of  Iciyal  and  honcft 
men  arc  ns  ready  as  I  am,  to  hazard  every  thing  in  defence 
of  the  country. 

I  fray  God  to  influence  the  hearts  of  both  (idej  to 
g<>od-\vil',  moderation,  and  peace  :  to  grant  to  our  ene- 
my grace  to  reium  to  a  due  (enfc  of  piciy  and  a  belief 'a 
■uiicorriipted  Chriftianiiy  ;  and  to  itriprefsour own  mind« 
villi  a  (enuus  lenlc  of  the  ncccHity  of  io  repenting  of 
.our  lins,  and  fo  reforming  t^^'^vcs,  as  may  enable  us 
to  hope  for  hisprolcftion  apinft  all  enemies,  foreign  or 
idomcilic. 

R.  LANDAFF, 


XondoH,  Jan.  ao,  1 798. 


293 


't  *«:n«».-s.'sjig: 


d  th« 
1  rca- 
dence 
loncft 
ifence 

!es  to 
enc- 
ief  in 
ninds 
ig  of 
>le  u« 
'n  ar 


